Muntin bars



Dec. 27, 1966 J, 3. Ma GREGOR 3,293,817

MUNTIN BARS Filed Sept. 28, 1964 INVENTOR James 6. Na: Gregor Blair 80Buckles fiJYOR/VEYS.

United States Patent 3,293,817 MUNTIN BARS James G. MacGregor, Stamford,Conn., assignor to AMS Corporation, South Norwalk, Conn. Filed Sept. 28,1964, Ser. No. 399,565 11 Claims. (Cl. 52-456) This invention relates tomuntin bars that extend between the outer f-rame members of a windowsash to divide it into two or more sections. Muntin bars may be anintegral part of a sash frame when the window comprises a plurality ofseparate small panes, or they may be positioned against a single pane tosimulate the appearance of a multi-pane window. Thi invention relatesparticularly to muntin bars of the latter type.

Many types of simulated muntin bars have been proposed in the past. Theyhave received only limited trade and public acceptance, however, becausethey are difficult and awkward to install and remove and are complex andexpensive to manufacture.

For example, it has been proposed to provide dowels at the end of themuntin bars that fit into holes drilled in the vertical stiles andhorizontal crossbars of the sash frame. However, it is almost impossiblefor a homeowner to drill such holes in installed Windows and thisconstruction require that the bars be bowed to insert or remove thedowels from the holes in the sash. Thus, installation and removal, evenafter the holes have been provided, are diflicult and awkwardoperations, and may result in breakage of the bars or the dowels. Toavoid such breakage, it has been proposed to provide hinges in each barso that they may be bent to facilitate installation and removal. Hingesof course substantially increase manufacturing costs and detract fromthe appearance of the muntin bars.

It has also been proposed that spikes be provided at the ends of thebars to be driven into the wood of the sash to hold the bars in place.This construction requires that the spikes be pulled out of the sasheach time it is desired to remove the bar, and driven back into the sashwhen it is desired to reinstall the bar. After several installations,the spike holes become oversized and the bars are no longer securelyheld.

It has also been proposed to imbed permanent magnets in the sash andprovide iron pieces'at the ends of the muntin bars to hold the bars inplace magnetically. This construction requires considerable mutilation:of the sash and, from a practical standpoint, requires that the magnetsbe installed at the factory, since their installation is beyond theskill of the ordinary homeowner. This construction is relativelyinsecure since the magnet otfer relatively little resistance to slidingmovement.

Other muntin bar constructions which have been proposed offer similar,and usually more serious, ditliculties of manufacture and installation.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to providesimulated muntin bars that may be quickly and easily installed andremoved from a window sash.

It is a further object of the invention to provide muntin bars of theabove character that are relatively inexpensive to manufacture.

Another object of the invention is to provide muntin bars of the abovecharacter that remain fir-mly in place in the sash despite repeatedremoval and reinstallation.

A still further object of the invention is to provide muntin bars of theabove character that are durable and long lasting.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide muntin bars of theabove character that are virtually indistinguishable upon ordinaryinspection from permanent muntin bars.

Still another object of the invention is to provide muntin bars of theabove character that do not rattle against the window pane against whichthey are installed.

A further object of the invention is to provide muntin bars of the abovecharacter that are thermally insulated from the glass window paneagainst which they are installed.

A still further object of the invention is to provide muntin bars of theabove character that interlock with the window sash stiles and crossbarsto which they are installed to add rigidity to the sash.

Another object of the invention is to provide muntin bars of the abovecharacter that interlock to form a rigid, unified grill for installationin a window sash.

Still yet another object of the invention is to provide muntin bars ofthe above character that may be installed conveniently and easily by thehomeowner using ordinary hand tools,

Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and will in partappear hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction,combinations of elements, arrangements of parts, and an article ofmanufacture possessing the features, properties, and the relation ofelements which will be exemplified in the construction and articlehereinafter described, and the scope of the invention will be indicatedin the claims.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention,reference should be had to the following detailed description taken inconnection with the accompanying drawing in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of an installed nine pane muntin barwindow grill according to the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged cross sectional view, partially cut away, takenalong the line 22 of FIGURE 1;

' FIGURE 3 is a cross sectional view, partially cut away, taken alongthe line 33 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a cross sectional view, partially cutaway, taken along theline 4-4 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged perspective view, partially cut away, of one endof a muntin bar being installed in the window sash of FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged perspective view, partially cut away, of thecross over of two muntin bars installed in the window sash of FIGURE 1.

A muntin bar, according to the present invention, generally comprises anelongated bar-like piece extending a length equal to the distancebetween the stiles or the crossbars of a standard single-pane windowsash. The muntin bar is flat on the side to be placed against the windowpane and decoratively shaped on the opposite side to be viewed from theinside of the window. Generally speaking, horizontal muntin barsaccording to present invention are shaped at either end to conform withthe standard decorative molding of the stiles of the sash, and thevertical muntin bars are so shaped at one end for engagement with theupper sash cross bar and are fiat at the other for engagement with thelower sash bar of the upper sash, for example, of a double-hung window.

According to the present invention, the ends of the muntin bars areprovided with spring locking devices for engagement with a stud havingits axis oriented parallel to the window pane. The muntin bar may bepressed against the window until the studs are engaged by the springlocking devices to hold the muntin bar in place, and the bar may bepulled from the window until the spring devices release the studs.

The studs of the present invention are formed of plastic and are hollowso that a nail may be placed through them and they may thereby befastened to the stile or crossbar of a sash. Integrally molded with thestud in an upstanding ridge oriented perpendicular to the axis of thestud and to the window pane. The ridge engages a slot in the end of themuntin bar. This provides an interlock between parallel sash members andthe transverse muntin bar, thus preventing increased separation 'of theparallel sash members as might occur, for example, in attempting to opena stuck window.

The invention also provides a fiat member integral with the ridge andstud for separating the muntin bar by a small distance from the windowpane so that the pane, when bending under wind pressure, for example,will not rattle against the muntin bar. When the muntin bars are metal,this flat portion is preferably made of a nonconductor of heat toprevent breakage of the window pane due to thermal stresses. Thus, thefiat portion may most conveniently be molded of a plastic material.

When the two or more muntin bars are crossed to make a grill, one muntinbar is relieved generally to conform with the decorative cross-sectionof the other. The other-muntin bar is slotted slightly so that the twowill fit together snugly to lie in a single plane. The inventionpreferably provides a flat interlocking member underlying the slottedmuntin bar and interlocking with the overlapping portions of the othermuntin bar to hold them together to form a rigid grill. Thisinterlocking member is preferably provided with a flat portion havingthe same thickness as the flat portion integral with the mounting studfor the same purpose of separating the muntin bar grill constructionslightly from the window pane, both to prevent rattling and to preventthermal contact when the muntin bars are made of metal.

The muntin bars of the present invention are most conveniently andpreferably extruded from a metal such as aluminum. When so extruded,they are preferably hollow so that spring clip locking members accordingto the present invention may be conveniently slid into the ends of themuntin bars and the studs for holding the muntin bars to the window sashmay be received in slots cut in the flat portion of the ends of themuntin bars.

More specifically, referring to FIGURE 1, a muntin bar grill, generallyindicated at 20, may be installed in theupper sash, generally indicatedat 22, of a conventional double-hung single-pane window, generallyindicated at 24. As illustrated in FIGURE 1, four muntin bars 26, 28, 30and 32 may be fitted together to form a nine-light grill.

Now, referring to FIGURE 5, eight fasteners 34 are provided, one forcooperation with each end of the four muntin bars 26-32. Each fastener34 is preferably integrally molded of a soft plastic material such aspolyethylene, and is shaped to engage themolding 38 of a sash stile orcrossbar 40. A hollow stud 42 is provided on the fastener 34'. Thefastener 34 may be conveniently attached to the window frame by means ofa nail 44 driven through the hollow stud 42 into the sash member 40.

The fastener 34 is provided with a fiat portion 46 that separates themuntin bar 26 from the window pane 48. The fiat portion 46 is providedwith an upstanding ridge 49 for engagement with a slot 50 in the flatportion 52 of the muntin bar 26.

The fastener 34 is provided with a strengthening portion 56 between-thestud 42 and the flat portion 46.

A Now referring to FIGURES 2, 3, and 5. A slot'58 is-provided in theflat portion 52 of each muntin bar for receiving the stud 42. The slot58 is enlarged at the outer end, thereof, 60, for engagement withportion 36 of the fastener 34. Particularly referring to FIGURE 3, aU-shaped spring steel clip 62 is slid into the end of each muntin bar.The rolled ends.;64, of the clip ;62 are therefore spread apart by-thestud 42 when the muntin bar is pressed against the'window. When themuntin bar-is fullyinstalled ends 64 cam against-stud 42 pulling the bar26 against the fastener 34.

Now referring to FIGURES 2,4, and 6. A clip 68,

also preferably; formed of semi-rigid plasticmaterial such aspolyethylene, is provided for interlocking crossedmuntin bars, such asrelieved muntin bar 26 and slotted muntin bar 30 of FIGURE 6. Clip 68has a flat portion 70 of the same thickness as the flat portion 46 offastener 34 for separating the muntin bar from the Window pane 48 and isprovided with hooks 72-72 engaging the edges of relieved portion 74(FIGURE 6) of muntin bar 26 to 3 thus hold the muntin bars 26 and 30together in a semirigid manner.

It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above, among those madeapparent from the preceding description, are efficiently attained and,since certain changes may be made in the above construction and articleswithout departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended thatall matter contained in the above description or shown in theaccompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in alimiting sense.

It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended tocover all of the generic and specific features of the invention which asa matter of langauge, might be said to fall therebetween. Havingdescribed my invention, what I claim as new and desire to be secured byLetters Patent is:

1. In a muntin bar adapted to be removably installed in a window frameagainst the pane thereof to give the appearance of a multi-pane window,means for detachably securing said muntin bar to the frame, comprising,in combination:

(A) a hollowed out portion at at least one end' of said muntin bar;

(B) an opening through the underside of said bar com municating withsaid hollowedout portion;

(C) a first fastener element received within said hollowed out portion;and, (D) a fastener member adapted to be secured to the frame comprisinga second fastener element dimensioned to releasably interlock with saidfirst fastener element and disposed, when said member is secured to'aframe, in a position overlying said pane inwardly of the frame, wherebyupon movement of said bar toward or away from said pane said secondfastener element passes through said opening into and out of saidhollowed out portion to respectively interlock with ordisengage fromsaid first fastener element.

2. In a muntin bar adapted to be removably installed in a window frameoverlapping the window pane to give the appearance of a multi-panewindow, means for detachably securing said bar to said frame,comprising, in combination:

(A) a hollowed out portionv at at least one end of said muntin barope'nat said one end and at the adjacent underside of said bar;

(B) afastener member adapted to be secured to the frame comprising astud extending, when saidmember is secured to a frame, inwardly from theframe and spaced from the'window pane; and,

(C) spring means received within said hollowed out portion andyieldably'blocking entrance of said stud into said hollowed out portionthrough the open underside of the bar;

(D) said spring means being dimensioned-to yield upon movement of saidbar toward said pane to pass said stud through the-undersideof the barinto said hol-I lowed out portion and thereafter return to yieldablyblock removal of said stud therefrom. 1

3. The muntin bar defined inclaim 2'wherein said spring means comprises:1 i

(a) a strip of spring steel held in inverted U-form in said hollowed outportion and having rolled ends normally blocking entry of said stud butbeing yieldable to pass the same into said hollowed out portion andthereafter return toward each other to yieldably block removal of saidstud.

A muntin bar according to claim 2, further compris- (E) a bore extendinglongitudinally through said stud for the passage of a nail or the liketo secure said member to the frame,

5. A muntin bar according to claim 2, further, comprising:

(E) a transverse slot in the underside of said muntin bar extendinginwardly from said one end; and,

(F) a projection on said fastener member adapted to enter said slot whensaid bar is snapped into place over said pane to limit longitudinalmovement of said bar.

6. A muntin bar according to claim 2, wherein said fastener memberfurther comprises:

(a) a base portion extending parallel to said stud and adapted to lieagainst a window pane to separate said bar from said pane.

7. A muntin bar according to claim 6, further compris- (E) a transverseslot in the underside of said bar extending inwardly from said one end;and,

(F) a transverse ridge on said base portion adapted to enter said slotwhen said bar is snapped in place to limit longitudinal movement of saidbar.

8. A muntin bar grill adapted for installation in a window frame againstthe pane thereof comprising, in combination:

(A) at least two hollow, rigid muntin bars,

(a) each of said bars being flat on one side and decoratively shaped onthe other,

(b) the flat sides of the ends of said muntin bars having a U-shapedopening therein,

(0) the first of said muntin bars having a general U-shaped cut thereinextending inwardly of the flat side thereof and conforming to thedecorative shape of the second of said muntin bars,

(d) the second of said muntin bars having a generally U-shaped cuttherein extending inwardly of the decoratively shaped portion thereof,whereby said muntin bars fit together to form a cross with their fiatsides lying substantially in the same plane;

(B) a one piece spring gripper (a) held within each of the hollow endsof said muntin bars,

(b) in alignment with said U-shaped openings, and (0) adapted to engagestuds mounted to a window frame;

(C) a generally U-shaped locking member (a) having hook portions at theends thereof,

(b) the bottom portion, thereof, being substantially uniform inthickness and flat, and

(c) said locking member fitted around the flat side of said secondmuntin bar with the hook portions thereof engaging said first muntin barto hold them together to form a cross.

9. The muntin gar grill defined in claim 8, and:

(D) spacers mounted to the window frame under the ends of said muntinbars of the same thickness as the bottom portion of said locking member.

10. The muntin bar grill defined in claim 9 wherein said muntin bars aremetal and said spacers and said locking member are formed of heatinsulating material.

11. The muntin bar grill defined in claim 8, and:

(D) unitary fasteners for the ends of said muntin bars adapted to befastened to a window frame compris- (a) a frame abutting portion havinga frame conforming contour, and

(b) a hollow stud portion extending perpendicularly from said frameabutting portion.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,818,829 8/1911Ulbrich 248-262 1,299,556 4/ 1919 Crecelius.

1,765,595 6/1930 Levan 211105.1 2,001,864 5/ 1935 Benjinsohn 2482672,633,322 3/1953 Barr 248-268 X 2,974,377 3/1961 Kunkle 52172 X3,099,865 8/ 1963 Burnett. 3,108,336 10/1963 Tate.

3,149,811 9/1964 Fremstad et al. 248-261 X HARRISON R. MOSELEY, PrimaryExaminer.

W. E. HEATON, A. I. BREIER, Assistant Examiners.

1. IN A MUNTIN BAR ADAPTED TO BE REMOVABLY INSTALLED IN A WINDOW FRAMEAGAINST THE PANE THEREOF TO GIVE THE APPEARANCE OF A MULTI-PANE WINDOW,MEANS FOR DETACHABLY SECURING SAID MUNTIN BAR TO THE FRAME, COMPRISING,IN COMBINATION: (A) A HOLLOWED OUT PORTION AT AT LEAST ONE END OF SAIDMUNTIN BAR; (B) AN OPENING THROUGH THE UNDERSIDE OF SAID BARCOMMUNICATING WITH SAID HOLLOWED OUT PORTION; (C) A FIRST FASTENERELEMENT RECEIVED WITHIN SAID HOLLOWED OUT PORTION; AND, (D) A FASTENERMEMBER ADAPTED TO BE SECURED TO THE FRAME COMPRISING A SECOND FASTENERELEMENT DIMENSIONED TO RELEASABLY INTERLOCK WITH SAID FIRST FASTENERELEMENT AND DISPOSED, WHEN SAID MEMBER IS SECURED TO A FRAME, IN APOSITION OVERLYING SAID PANE INWARDLY OF THE FRAME, WHEREBY UPONMOVEMENT OF SAID BAR TOWARD OR AWAY FROM SAID PANE SAID SECOND FASTENERELEMENT PASSES THROUGH SAID OPENING INTO AND OUT OF SAID HOLLOWED OUTPORTION TO RESPECTIVELY INTERLOCK WITH OR DISENGAGE FROM SAID FIRSTFASTENER ELEMENT.